{"id":3002,"date":"2017-06-05T09:03:47","date_gmt":"2017-06-05T09:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.binfire.com\/blog\/?p=3002"},"modified":"2017-06-05T09:03:47","modified_gmt":"2017-06-05T09:03:47","slug":"collaborative-project-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.binfire.com\/blog\/collaborative-project-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Collaborative Project Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collaborative Project Management is a clich\u00e9. \u00a0Business owners and corporate CEOs think their Project Managers and their teams practice\u00a0collaboration. But nothing is further from the\u00a0truth when it comes to the practice of collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

The concept of collaboration is very elusive. What constitutes collaboration?\u00a0 How do you define it? how do you practice it? Is proper communication all you need to create a collaborative environment? Most project managers have a hard time answering the above questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

To make it worse, there is very little guidance given to Project Managers to help them manage collaboratively.\u00a0\u00a0 Below are some simple techniques that you\u00a0can use\u00a0to create a culture that supports Collaborative Project Management.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Collaborative project management to-dos<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Manage by Example<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Collaboration cannot occur in a vacuum and management needs to create a top-down culture that adopts collaborative practices.\u00a0 Within the project team, the Project Manager needs to demonstrate a commitment to collaboration by leading by example<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Collaborative Project Manager has an open door policy. She is empathetic to the views of her team members. Collaborative project\u00a0managers are\u00a0transparent in their decision-making process.<\/span><\/p>\n

This helps\u00a0project members<\/a> to understand the rationale for decisions and changes. These managers are inclusive of the diverse views of team members. A robust early debate about the direction, structure, and planning of the project<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, Project Managers need to be responsive to the overall business objectives and the consensus is not always feasible or necessary.\u00a0 For this project permissions<\/a> for accessing project’s details should be only given to those who have a stake in the project. However, when the Project Manager acts as a role model for collaboration this can change the overall team’s dynamic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Promote and Incentivize Collaboration<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Team members that engage in the\u00a0collaborative Project Management practices should be reward by receiving recognition. Where applicable, career advancement opportunities or even financial incentives should go to those who work collaboratively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Demonstrate to the wider team that professional development within the organization is linked to the individual\u2019s ability to collaborate with the group.<\/span><\/p>\n

One way to encourage\u00a0collaboration is to tie the team’s compensation to the level of collaboration. The team is rewarded for the great\u00a0results achieved by the team as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Include the team in planning, design, and staffing of the project. You need 100% buying from your team when you start the project. Let them contribute and the project will reap the benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Individuals who are unwilling or unable to collaborate could be penalized and when necessary removed from the\u00a0team or even the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Educate and Mentor Your Team<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One cannot simply assume that a team will be collaborative even if the overall organization is supportive of collaboration and the Project Manager works to facilitate this behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

By definition, Collaboration cannot be taught via a frontal learning methodology.\u00a0 Companies with a rigid approach to corporate training may need to re-think how to educate their project teams on collaborative practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

In our experience, one of the best ways to \u201cteach\u201d collaboration is to conduct off-site activities which require “group work” with a team prior to kick-off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Within reasonable limits, group activities can be designed to foster team building and also introduce team members to each other in a non-confrontational, more intimate way.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the best activities we know of to participate in Habitat for Humanity<\/a> projects. Not only the team works on a great cause, they also learn to collaborate for achieving the best results.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the project development, it is important to celebrate when milestones reached. Have weekly gatherings to discuss project challenges in an informal and constructive environment and have fun at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

After project completion, it is always important to conduct a thorough debrief and to use the experience for professional development and growth or team members and improvements of future projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the overall success of a project, we cannot overemphasize the importance of the project manager taking on a mentorship role with the specific intent of encouraging collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, to the extent that corporate training programs can incorporate collaboration building exercises, we recommend programs that focus on Emotional Intelligence<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Such programs can help to\u00a0improve the Emotional \u00a0Intelligence<\/a> of the managers and the whole team significantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

These programs should also encourage\u00a0team-building, cross-cultural sensitivity<\/a> and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Develop Metrics for Collaboration<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To measure the effectiveness of your collaboration initiative, you need to establish metrics. \u00a0Where possible tie rewards to the overall performance of the team and not the individual performance.\u00a0 Without being too prescriptive, we suggest the following:<\/span><\/p>\n